Tuesday, 20 August 2019

The Zimbabwe National Army bomb disposal squad and police
were on Monday called to Bulawayo’s Emganwini suburb after residents stumbled
on a hand grenade believed to have been left in the area during the war of
liberation.

Zimbabwe National Army 1 Infantry Brigade Public Relations
Officer Captain Brian Muchero yesterday described the device as an M962
fragmentation hand grenade.

“An explosive was found whilst a work party was digging a
foundation. The type of explosive was an M962 fragmentation hand grenade. It is
believed to be part of the remnant explosives of the liberation struggle,” said
Cpt Muchero.

“The military
engineers from 1 Field Engineers Squadron attended the scene and got rid of the
device.”

Cpt Muchero warned communities never to tamper with any
explosives and to report immediately if any objects suspected to be explosives
were found.

“The community is encouraged to be on the lookout when
digging so that when they identify any suspicious items theyshould report immediately to the police. These items are not to be moved
or tampered with under any circumstances,” said Cpt Muchero.

An M962 grenade has a killing radius of about 15 metres and
general blast radius of about 200 metres.

When The Chronicle arrived at the scene, a visibly shaken
builder indicated where he stumbled upon the explosive but referred all
questions to the owner of the house, Mrs Nqobizitha Dube-Mkhwananzi.

Her sister, Ms Talent Dube said residents jostled see the
device after news spread that an explosive had been unearthed.

“We were very shocked as a familythat a bomb was found within our yardthat we may have been walking over it for years. The thought is quite
scary,” said Ms Dube.

Some residents said councils should ensure that lands are
thoroughly combed for any explosives which may have been left during war times
before residential stands are allocated to the public for safety reasons.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi confirmed the incident and said the explosive was found by men digging
at a house under renovations.

“As they (builders) were working on rubble they discovered
the grenade. They were digging in the area and that is when it was discovered.
It was safely destroyed by the Zimbabwe National Army engineers,” said
Assistant Commissioner Nyathi. Chronicle